Fort Lauderdale, FL Landscaping Rules: Weed Ordinances (2026)
Key Facts
- Height limit
- 6 inches (overgrowth = lawn/grass/weeds over 6 in.)
- Definition
- Fort Lauderdale Code Sec. 18-3
- Prohibition
- Fort Lauderdale Code Sec. 18-12
- Notice/cure period
- 10 days after posted notice
- Enforcement
- Special magistrate; City abatement + lien
Summary
Fort Lauderdale Code Section 18-3 defines 'overgrowth' as lawn, grass or weeds in excess of six (6) inches in height, and Section 18-12 declares any overgrowth of lawn, grass, weeds or foliage on a property a public nuisance the owner must abate.
Overgrowth means lawn, grass or weeds in excess of six (6) inches in height. ... It is declared unlawful and a public nuisance for any owner or occupant of any real property, including any lot, tract or parcel of land, improved or unimproved in this city to maintain such property, including swale areas, sidewalks and waterways abutting such real property, or permit such property to be maintained in such a manner that there is any accumulation or untended growth of weeds, undergrowth or other dead or living plant life; any overgrowth of lawn, grass, weeds or foliage.
Full Breakdown
Fort Lauderdale enforces a hard six-inch grass-height standard through its nuisance code. ' The standard reaches the abutting swale and sidewalk, not just the lawn proper. On a violation, the City's Building/Code Enforcement Director posts a notice on the property describing the nuisance and requiring it to be corrected within 10 days; if the owner fails to comply the case can go to the special magistrate and the City may abate the nuisance and assess the cost as a special-assessment lien.
Violations & Fines
After notice, the owner has 10 days to mow or clear growth over six inches; failure to comply can be referred to the special magistrate as a code violation and the City may abate (cut/clear) the property itself, with the total cost plus administrative costs becoming a special assessment and lien on the property.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall can grass be in Fort Lauderdale before it is a violation?
What happens if my lawn is over six inches in Fort Lauderdale?
Does the six-inch rule include the strip by the street?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Fort Lauderdale
How Fort Lauderdale compares: Cities with the Strictest Weed and Property Maintenance Rules·Florida rules heatmap·Compare Fort Lauderdale to another location·View the Florida landscaping rules overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.
Weed Ordinances in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Broward County handle weed ordinances.